Guide for Sasan Gir in Gujarat (Only abode for Asiatic Lions)

Map of Gir National Park &
Wildlife Sanctuary  

Gir National Park  and Wildlife Sanctuary,   also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India.

It is located 43 km (27 mi) north-east of Somnath, 65 km (40 mi) south-east of Junagadh and 60 km (37 mi) south-west of Amreli.

It was established in 1965, with a total area of 1,412 km² (545 sq mi), of which 258 km² (100 sq mi) is fully protected as national park and 1,153 km² (445 sq mi) as wildlife sanctuary. It is part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.

In the 19th century, the rulers of Indian princely states used to invite the British colonists for hunting expeditions. At the end of the 19th century, only about a dozen Asiatic lions were left in India, all of them in the Gir Forest, which was part of the Nawab of Junagarh's private hunting grounds. Today, it is the only area in Asia, where Asiatic lions occur, and is considered one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species. The Gir ecosystem with its diverse flora and fauna is protected as a result of the efforts of the government forest department, wildlife activists and NGOs. However, faced with a drastic drop in the lion population in Gir, after British viceroys brought to his attention the plight of the lion in Asia, the sanctuary is the jewel of Gujarat's ecological resources. His son, Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III  later assisted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to only 20 through slaughter for trophy hunting.

The count of 2,375 distinct fauna species of Gir includes about 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and more than 2,000 species of insects. The main herbivores of Gir are chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara and wild boar. Blackbucks from the surrounding area are sometimes seen in the sanctuary.

Among the smaller mammals, porcupine and hare are common, but the pangolin is rare. The reptiles are represented by the mugger crocodile, Indian cobra, tortoise and monitor lizard which inhabit the sanctuary's bodies of water. Snakes are found in the bush and forest. Pythons are sighted at times along the stream banks. Gir has been used by the Gujarat State Forest Department which formed the Indian Crocodile Conservation Project in 1977 and released close to 1000 marsh crocodiles into Lake Kamaleshwar and other small bodies of water in and around Gir.

Things to Do :-

Gir Jungle Trail - 

Guests enjoying Asiatic Lions sighting in
their open Jeep during Jungle Trail

Gir Jungle Trail/Drive/ Safari are the main attraction and the reason of Most of the guest to travel “Sasan Gir”. As per the guideline from the Forest Department guest wish to visit jungle they can book there passes by login to official website“www.girlion.in OR http://gslcs.gujaratforest.org/, since this is the only way to book the safari. Guest must required to book the safari well in advance because the online booking will closed 48 Hours prior to visit the date guest required. Permits OR passes are subject to availability online only and there is no other way to book the safari if online permits are not available.

The entrance charges are as follows:-

• For Indian INR 800/-( Monday to Friday) & INR 1000/-( Sat, Sunday & Festival)
• For N.R.I OR Foreigners INR 5400/-( Monday to Friday)& INR 6000/-( Sat, Sunday & Any festival)

The Guide Charges are INR 400/- per trip  & Jeep Charges are INR 1800/- per trip  will remain same where camera charges will varies For Indian INR 200/- Per Camera & INR 1200 Per camera For N.R.I & Foreigner. 

Timings:- 06:00 to 09:00 AM, 08:30 to 11:30 AM & Afternoon 15:00 to 18:00

G.I.Z Devaliya Gypsy or Bus Safari - 

Devalia Safari Park:- “( Morning 08 Am to 10:30 AM & Evening 14:30 Pm to 16:30 Pm)

Devalia Safari park also Known as Gir Interpretation Zone”.

Devalia is the establishment of particular eco-Tourism zone to reduce overload of tourists from gir forest visit and to provide whole wildlife of Gir at single place in safe habitats. This interpretation zone comprises of 4X4Sq.Km. chain link fenced area which is regarded as “Gir in a nutshell” covering all habitat types and wildlife of Gir. The basic aim of creating this facility is to provide an opportunity of viewing lions and other animals in their natural habitat within a short period of time at cheaper rates. There are animals like Asiatic Lions, leopards. Blue bull, Sāmbhar, Chital, jackal ,Black buck, Wild Boar etc. the presence of savanna habitat and other flora is also another attraction of the area. Many rare birds including Peafowl and Vultures are common in Devalia.

Note: - Devalia Safari Park remains closed on every WEDNESDAY.

Bus Safari Timings:- 08Am to 10:30 Am & Evening 14:30 to 16:30

Gypsy Safari Timings:- 07:00 to 07:55 AM, 08:00 to 08:55 AM, 09:00 to 09:55 AM, 10:00 to 10:55 AM, 03:00 to 03:55 PM,  04:00 to 04:55 PM, 05:00 to 05:55 PM

Gir Orientation Center - 

Next to the “Sinh Sadan” reception Centre, this has an informative exhibition on the sanctuary and a small shop. 

Timings:- 09:00 AM to 08:000 PM

Crocodile breeding center :- 

This center, near Sinh Sadan, is a good place to see the crocodile from baby to big, breed here to restock the sanctuary. 

Timings:- 08:30 AM to 06:00 PM

Jambur Village :-

A village felt like a troop of person that flew in from a country in Africa. They were descended from the people that were brought in by the Nawab of Junagargh, but some said that they had descended from earlier times, when the Arab traders brought Abbisynian slaves many many generations ago. The term ‘Negro Village’ is the local term, of Sasan Gir.

Distance :- Approximately 30 minutes drive 

Somnath Temple :- 

The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat. Reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by several Muslim invaders and rulers and Portuguese, the present temple was reconstructed in Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The reconstruction was started under the orders of first Home Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel and completed after his death.

Distance :- Approximately 1.30 hours drive 

Diu :-

Diu is a town in Diu district in the union territory of Daman and Diu, India. Diu District is the tenth least populated district of India. The town of Diu lies at the eastern end of Diu Island and is known for its fortress and old Portuguese cathedral. It is a fishing town. The city is one of the hundred Indian cities competing in a national level competition to get the funds under Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission. Diu will be competing for the one of last 10 spots against 20 cities from across India.

Sight Seeing :-  Naida Caves, Diu fort, Nagoa Beach, St. Paul Church, Sampa Gateway, Diu Museum
Distance :- Approximately 02 hours drive

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Lioness Laxmi’s lucky five in Zoo

Three Year Old Mother in Gir (Junagadh, Gujarat, India) has Given birth to a Record litter, all the cubs are healthy 

Five seems to be the lucky number for Laxmi. This three year old lioness in Gir (Junagadh, Gujarat, India) has given birth to a litter of five. Interestingly, Laxmi herself was one of a litter of five born to lioness named Shyama.

At her age, Laxmi should usually be learning the tricks of hunting, but she is already a mother and playing the role with tremendous ease. She is taking good care of the cubs and is protecting them from all kinds of threats of jungle life.

On May 17, 2013, Laxmi gave birth to five cubs in Gir Interpretation Zone at Devaliya (Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Gujarat, India). The cubs are now 75 days old and weigh between 3.5 and 4 kg. The cubs have begun to supplement the mother’s milk with meat as they have already developed teeth. “This is a remarkable feat as normally a lioness gives birth to 2 to 3 cubs and it is rather rare for all the cubs to survive. Laxmi deserves praise for her mothering skills well proved by the thriving brood,” said a forest officer.

Gujarat’s chief wildlife warden C.N. Pandey said, “Laxmi has inherited good genes. She was born on May 3, 2010, at Sakarbaug Zoo, Junagadh (Gujarat, India) to lion Daksh and lioness Shyama. However, her mother Shyama could raise only three of them. The rest died in their infancy. Laxmi has been able to achieve a record”.

“A lioness can feed only four cubs at a time. But Laxmi has been able to work around this biological limitation. 

This example illustrate that Asiatic lions are genetically strong and competent,” said Pandey. “The forest department continues to play a leading role in biodiversity conservation through dedicated management and support to nature with skill care. It is crucial that each and every individual of an endangered species is protected with proper skills and capability”.

“Birth to five cubs in a litter is extremely rare,” an official of the department said.

“We were not sure if Laxmi would be able to raise all five cubs. But she was to make a record in the known history of Asiatic Lion management. Laxmi, supported by the forest department staff, she has been able to ensure that all of her survive,” the official said.

Courtesy:- Times of India